Kodak Moment

At The Cannery on Wednesday they had to do a major export of the various pieces for "Shutter" (I cut the main one), so I had a couple of hours to stop by The Kodak Theatre in daylight. Glad for the time because I originally knew the only opportunity this week would be in the evening. Was able to side step fighting rush hour in and out of Hollywood.

It was great once again to take in the place that would be the industry focal point this weekend. Usually when I look for an opening in the plastic that covers the red carpet I find one along the edge. This time there was one the size of a slice of bread practically right in the middle of the entry arch. I reached down and put my hand on The Precious just as a security guard looked my way. He said very nicely that I probably should not do that. I told him I came there every year to do just that, like touching the grass at Fenway or Yankee Stadium. He smiled and said his supervisor was behind him and doesn't even let them touch it. No worries, I said. I had my feel.

I walked back in towards the main staircase that leads to the actual entrance to the theatre itself. As I was about to take a turn towards the parking garage, I noticed another opening in the plastic. Near the very edge there was a pile of carpet threads that had not been vacuumed away yet, clearly because they'd just installed the carpet recently. I leaned down, grabbed a handful of threats to no one's dismay, and then headed for the car. It might sound funny but hey, I'd love to grab myself even a half inch of the actual Academy Awards red carpet as a token of my dreams! But this was the best, most easily accessible thing I could grab...so I grabbed it!

On Sunday I'll be watching the stars walk on that first spot of carpet I touched near the entry arch, and I'll be thinking......some day.